Clothes-line



(No Model.) Y D. W. AYRES.

CLOTHES LINE.

10,559,925 Patented Mafy 12, 1896.

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#gaz Jaz ff 592 lfz iINTTnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL IY. AYRES, OF DURANGO, COLORADO.

CLOTHES-LINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 559,925, dated May 12, 1896. Application filed September 14,1894. Renewed April '7, 1896. Serial No. 586,607. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL W. Avans, a citizen of the United States, residing at Du` rango, in the county of La Plata and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clothes-Lines; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same.

)Iy invention has relation to clothes-lines.

The object in view is to provide a clothesline which is adapted to firmly grip or nip various articles of clothing and to be readily operated to release the same, said line being composed of wire and having twists forming nipping-jaws between which the articles are nipped, and also having open or spread-out portions, which not only permit the entrance of the fabric into the twist of the nippingjaws, but permit the separation of the jaws to release the articles 5 and with this object in view the invention consists in the novel construction of the line hereinafterV fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view of a portion of a clothes-line in its preferred form and showing the nipping-jaws spread apart for the purpose of more easily inserting articles of clothing between them, or for releasing said articles. Fig. lfh is a view of the line in its normal position. Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of a modilied construction of clothes-line in normal position, in which the twisted nipping-jaw is formed by twisting one of the strands around the other,which is comparativelyT straight or without twist, the spread-out portion being formed by the twisting strand. Fig. 3 is a view of a portion of anothermodied form of line, showing a slight change in the shape of the spreadout portion for separating the jaws. Fig. i illustrates a still further modified construction of the line.

My improved clothes-line consists, essentially, of nipping-jaws formed by twists in the line, of either or both of the strands, and open or spread-out portions formed at inter vals, which are adapted to be partially forced together, to thereby cause the twists of the line to open, whereby insertion of the articles between or disengagement of the same from the jaws is facilitated.

My construction differs, essential] y,f rom the construction of clothes-lines wherein the jaws are formed by straight portions of the line and opened by pulling apart or opening certain other parts of the line.

The many advantages which my improved line possesses will be readily seen from the following description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In constructing my improved clothes-line I may employ but one strand of wire doubled upon itself, or I may employ two strands suitably secured at the ends.

Referring to Figs. l and l of the drawings, the wires or strands are twisted or coiled together at intervals in the length of the line, as seen at A". Said twists or coils may be either long or short twists. I, however, prefer a reasonably long twist, as it facilitates the insertion and removal of the articles, and yet will rmly hold the same. The twists or coils of the line form nipping-jaws B, which thus present curved or twisted nipping-surfaces to the articles, which as inserted between the same are compelled to follow said twists or curves, and thus are held very securely. Intermediate the twisted portions or jaws of the line the strands are spread apart or separated, as seen at O. These open or spread-out portions serve as a means for readily opening or spreading apart the jaws B to facilitate the insertion of the articles of clothing between said jaws or the removal of said articles from between said jaws.

By my construction of the jaws B and the operating portions O it will be observed that by closing or forcing together to some extent the said portions O the nipping-jaws will be separated, and this operation of the parts C may be readily accomplished with one hand, while the other may be used for handling the articles. The nipping or holding power of the jaws is very materially increased by reason of the twist upon itself given to the fabric as it follows the line of the twist or coil as it is inserted therein, and this as well with the most delicate fabrics as with the heaviest, rendering it impossible for'such fabrics to be blown from the line, while by drawing them lengthwise of the line toward O, and espe- IOO the jaws apart and thus avoid injury to the fabric.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that the twist is altogether in one of the strands, which strand is thus at intervals twisted or coiled around the other or straight strand, as seen at A. The twisted strand forms nipping-jaws B', and at intervals the twisted strand is bowed 0r spread out, as seen at C', which spread-out portions serve as a means to readily open or spread apart the jaws I3.

In lthe construction seen in Fig. 3 the two wires or strands are twisted together, as seen at A2, the twists forming nipping-jaws B2, and the strands have spread-out portions C2, the spreadout portions of one of the strands being bowed er curved, while the spread-out portions of the other strand are bent into angular shape.

In the construction seen in Fig. 4 the line consists of a nuinberof links or sections, each of said links comprising one or more twist or coil jaws B3 and one or niore open or spreadout portions C3, as maybe desired, which links inay be suitably joined together to form aline of the desired length.

It will be noted that the general principles of construction and operation ofthe invention, as set forth relatively to the construction seen in Figs. l, l, 2, and 3, are embodied in the construction seen in Fig. at.

It will be understood that the principle of construction of my clothes-line niay be einbodied in other devices for the purpose of holding 0r retaining various fabrics in lieu of the usual buttons, buckles, hooks, pins, the., heretofore used for such purpose.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A clothes-line constructed of wire strands and comprising twisted or coiled portions, which forni nipping-jaws having curved nipping surfaces, and intermediate open, or spread-out portions adapted to spread the jaws apart when operated in the nia-nner described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DANIEL W. AYRES. IVil-,nesses F. S. BALsTER, C. H. BENTON. 

